Mediterranean Migrant Arrivals at 173,761; Deaths 723

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Greece - IOM reports that an estimated 173,761 migrants and refugees have arrived in Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Spain by sea through 11 April 2016. That is an increase of 1,303 arrivals since IOM reported 172,458 arrivals on Friday, 8 April. Just over a thousand landed in Greece, the balance in Italy.

On Saturday, 9 April the Norwegian ship Siem Pilot brought to Taranto, Italy, 294 migrants who sailed from North Africa and were rescued in the Channel of Sicily. Also on Saturday, Greek authorities reported the drowning of at least five migrants arriving from Turkey. Five bodies were recovered off Samos, while five migrants were rescued. Witnesses said that the shipwrecked craft was carrying 14 passengers, leaving four people still missing. That brings this year’s total for lives lost on the Mediterranean Sea to 723.

Mediterranean Developments: Arrivals by sea and deaths

1 Jan – 11 April 2016

1 Jan – 30 April 2015

Country

Arrivals

Deaths

Arrivals

Deaths

Greece

153,156*

375 (Eastern Med route)

22,408

31 (Eastern Med Route)

Cyprus

27

269 (Jan-Dec 2015)

Italy

19,930

343 (Central Med route)

26,228

1,687 (Central Med route)

Spain

648

5 (Western Med and Western African routes)

3,845 (Jan-Dec 2015)

15 (Western Med and Western African routes)

Estimated Total

173,761

723

48,636

1,733

*As of 10 April 2016

Country

Total 2014

Total 2015

1 Jan – 11 April 2016

Greece

34,442

853,650

153,156

Italy

170,100

153,842

19, 930

IOM estimates 153,156 migrants and refugees have crossed into Greece since January 1st, 2016. Crossings from Turkey to the Greek islands have now fallen to approximately 100 a day. On Sunday, 10 April, zero arrivals were recorded in Greece. IOM notes asylum applications are expected to significantly increase as almost all the 3,097 migrants and refugees at the Moria camp on Lesbos have now applied for asylum.

IOM estimates that there are now over 53,000 migrants and refugees stranded in Greece. Most are being accommodated at reception centers in Northern Greece and Attica.

Main nationalities of migrants and refugees arriving in Greece in 2016 (Data: Greek Police)

Country of Origin

Jan 2016

Feb 2016

Mar 2016

Syria

30,979

30,043

14,738

Afghanistan

18,983

13,793

6,201

Iraq

12,335

9,572

2,770

Pakistan

2,532

1,897

1,962

Iran

2,304

1,656

800

IOM has compiled data on other nationalities’ arrivals as recorded by Greek authorities. Besides the top five nationalities in the chart above, IOM notes that other nationalities included large numbers of Bangladeshis, Moroccans and Palestinians.

IOM notes that the Greek authorities also recorded the arrival of nearly 150 people from the Dominican Republic. Other irregular arrivals since 1 January 2016 have included citizens of Saudi Arabia (10), Lebanon (309), Egypt (292), Somalia (403) and Sri Lanka (132).